Beginner needing help to build up to 20 mile ride - Tour de Norfolk in September

[outlash]

You'll be amazed how quickly you can rack the miles up. Late last year, my wife wanted to start riding regularly so I made up the 'double digit, double digit challenge' for her, 10 miles at an average of 10 mph. She managed it, one ride a week in 6 weeks from doing nothing. Living out on the fens, hills won't be an issue but wind will be. Just get out a ride as often as possible, make sure you've got you've got plenty to drink and something like a muesli bar if you feel like you need an energy boost. You'll be fine .

 

[raleighnut]

As others have said just keep at it and remember being slow but steady on a bike is the way to 'rack up the miles'.

 

[jonny jeez]

Hi and welcome.

Some good advice here.

I would add, plan to stop.

Break the ride into three parts, with a tea stop, in the middle and a couple of rest stops at 25% and 75%.

That should make it 4 rides of 5 miles each.

Use the same logic for any of your rides, regardless of the distance.

 

[Yazzoo]

When it comes to the event day be careful not to get caught up with trying to keep up with those in front. It's very easy to get swept along with it and to start off with it'll be easy to keep 17mph with a group if you usually ride at 14mph, but you might not last the distance! Set yourself a time you'd be pleased to complete in in your head, give yourself plenty of wiggle room to allow for unexpected hills, junctions, chatty people etc!

Do your own ride, for you. I did a 25mile sportive with my son last weekend (he's 8) planned to stop in the middle at about mile 13 but he was going strong so thought we'd keep going and he did the lot in one go, furthest he'd ever been non-stop was 15miles before. The atmosphere on the day really does make a big difference.

 

[Saluki]

Hi Dave, I'm in Wisbech. Where are you staying on holiday?

Nice and flat As the others have said, just build up the time and miles, just like you would if you were running a 5k. The beauty of cycling is you can just sit and let the downhill bits take care of themselves with minimal effort from you

How far are you cycling at the moment?

 

[mickle]

All lies. 20 miles is easily achievable by 95% of the population without any training whatsoever. If your bikes fits and works ok - just, as the catchphrase says, do it.

 

[Mrs bean]

Thanks everyone, brilliant advice and tips.

Currently run 5k, cycle between 5-10k depending on what rest of the family are doing.

Also signed up for a 24k at welney wash, end of July, really looking forward to both rides and my daily cycling.

Happy cycling

 

[Saluki]

Just had a squint at the route - I used to live in Wymondham and know that 20 mile loop pretty well. Nice and flat, nothing tricky there at all. You have 3 months and you will be just fine

If you can cycle 10k now, you will be able to cycle well beyond the 20 miles by the end of September, I should think.
Have a great time.

 

[gbb]

One thing always worth doing, something you may not think about as ypu increase your mileage and risk getting tired...set off into the wind and that gives you a tailwind home if you feel you've pushed too far or hard.
Nothing worse than facing miles home with the wind in your face when you're already tired.
Headwind out, tailwind home.

 

[stalagmike]

I did a 50mile sportive after only really doing about five or six training runs of between 4 and 10 miles and a single 25miler on a weekend. As @mickle says, just get out there and do it. It might hurt like hell and you'll ache for a week after but you will feel good about pushing yourself through the wall. As long as you don't have a heart or lung problem it should be easily achievable if you take it steady.

 

[Dave 123]

Mrs Dave was never a natural cyclist. She was all sweaty, out of breath and fighting it. I talked her into a decent hybrid, then a decent road bike. Last Feb she did her first 50 miler on a road bike.
We now have a tandem and she does 25-50 miles regularly (36.5 today, same tomorrow).
She recently looked up a British cycling 'breeze' ride.... 12 miles. "No point getting your bike out for that" was her opinion.

Ride with others who will give you motivation and team spirit, you'll do it easily!

 

[mrandmrspoves]

Thanks everyone, brilliant advice and tips.

Currently run 5k, cycle between 5-10k depending on what rest of the family are doing.

Also signed up for a 24k at welney wash, end of July, really looking forward to both rides and my daily cycling.

Happy cycling

Mrs Bean, you would be welcome to join Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Bicycle Users on any of our rides. We set off from Lynnsport in KL and travel at the speed of the slowest rider (usually me)
We have a rider from Wisbech who joins us for many rides so it may even be possible to share transport. If you search for KLWNBUG you will find our Web page and we are on Facebook too.
I will be acting as a marshal for the Welney ride, so do say hello (I am the middle aged, balding overweight one - so easily recognised!)

 

[HLaB]

I remember cycling over the Forth Road Bridge from Dunfermline as a teenager and thinking Edinburgh was impossible and immediately turning back. After a break of 10 -15 years I did it and thought nothing of it and since done quite a few long rides (a 205miles one being the last). No distance is impossible if you have the time. Get out a wee bit beforehand and come September you'll be fine

 

[Mrs bean]

Hi, thanks Mr and Mrs spoves, I have bought an adapted tandem for myself and disabled son, so we will be easily spotged at Welney. Ride around our flat Tarmac drive was great, the ride down the country lanes however was hair raising, we have lots of training rides to do to get comfortable and confident. I'll be the one puffing and muttering but with a smile on my face.

I will look up the Kings Lynn bicycle rides and hopefully join you.
Many thanks

 

[T4tomo]

hi, I've cycled for leisure since I can remember, however in my quest to lose some weight, having given up smoking a year ago, I have registered for the short ride at the Tour de Norfolk in September. Any help, tips or advice about building my miles up, doing the 20 mile ride, would be much appreciated.

Register for a longer ride, if you are doing 5-10k now and capable of running 5k so reasonably fit, just stepping that up by say 25% every time you go out will mean that by end of September 50 miles will be well within reach.